About Ali

Hey! I’m Ali, and I am so happy that you found your way here to Gimme Some Oven!

I created this little corner of the internet as a celebration of life shared around the table, and specifically, the recipes that bring us all together. Because really, most of my favorite memories in life tend to take place around one table or another. From cozy weeknight date nights in with our favorite garlicky pasta, to impromptu happy hours after work with friends toasting the world’s best margaritas, to decades of Christmas Day dinners fighting over the last slice of Grandma’s pecan pie, to bringing pans of my favorite chicken enchiladas to friends after surgeries, to introducing our hundredth friend to the brilliance that is nooch popcorn — life has convinced me that good food shared with good people is simply the best.

And of course, all the better when that food is quick and easy to make, seasonally inspired, lightened up a bit, and wildly delicious — right?

If that sounds like your style, you’ve got a kindred spirit right here. ♡

A bit about me.

When I began this blog back in 2009, I was working as a full-time musician by day and cooking up a storm by night. Now, I have the privilege of getting to work on this blog full-time from my little kitchen in Barcelona, writing and photographing and creating recipes that will hopefully make their way into your home as well. I love what I do, and love all of you, and love this crazy world wide web that brings us together.

I’m a Kansas City girl who recently had some friends set me up on a blind date with the guy of my dreams…and then fell head over heels in love with him…and then married him♡♡♡…and then together, we decided to follow our craziest dreams and move to Spain in the fall of 2018. Now we’re livin’ the expat life together in the heart of Barcelona making a new home here with our two pups, and we’re soaking it all up. Life has a way of changing in a heartbeat. And I’m so thankful for this new season that has been filled with so much love and light.

As you’ll come to find, I also have a deep love of travel, and love setting out on adventures as often as possible, especially while we’re living in such close proximity to somany of the places on my European bucket list. So if you follow along with our life behind the scenes, don’t be surprised if the scenery changes often. But here at home? My favorite things in life tend to always revolve around good friends, studying Spanish, Barre3, Mexican food, the Enneagram, playing music, and making food for people I love. Oh, and snuggling with our cute pups as often as possible.

A bit about the blog.

Another love in my life is this space right here.

I actually started this blog on a total whim back in 2009 when I was beginning to cook more and more, and wanted a place to organize and keep track of my favorite recipes. It was a total hobby for me. And as you can see if you take a scroll back through the archives, ha, I still had lots to learn back in those early days. 😂 But the more I began blogging, the more I enjoyed learning about photography and recipe development and writing. And the more I began to find my own style of cooking, and the values and rhythms and ingredients that felt true to me. And through it all — thanks to the miracle of this crazy world wide web — I started seeing more and more of you give these recipes a try for yourself. Which I still say is the absolute coolest thing ever.

Truly. Back when I was in college, food blogs didn’t even exist! Let alone, have the potential to support full-time incomes.

But over time, this site grew to the point where I was able to leave my previous job as a musician and work on cultivating this space full-time. And for that — and especially for all of you who tune in week after week, month after month, year after year — I am deeply grateful. I take very seriously the trust that you all place in these recipes, and love working on new ones that will hopefully be total winners when passed around your own tables. So whenever I see you tag a recipe on Instagram or read a comment that you made and loved a recipe, welp, just know that you’ve downright made my day. Absolutely love it.

A bit about my food philosophy.

So what kinds of recipes will you see on Gimme Some Oven?

I always used to struggle with the fact that this blog didn’t really have a “niche”, especially having heard from so many experts claim that blogs couldn’t be successful without one. But here’s the thing — I blog the way I cook. And I really enjoy cooking a little bit of everything!

I love the balance of improvising a stir-fry one day, and then measuring the precise amounts of ingredients for a meringue the next. I love adding as many greens and veggies to my plate as possible, and then maybe indulging in a fudgy brownie for dessert. I love cooking as seasonally as possible, yet will cave for a good pint of fresh blackberries at the store any day of the year. I love dinners that take less than 30 minutes to cook most nights of the week, and then enjoying a glass of wine as I babysit a slow-cooking pan of paella on a Saturday.

A little bit of everything. All things in moderation. All of that good stuff.

That said, without a doubt, most of the recipes on this site generally fall into the quick, easy, seasonal, and lightened-up category. And while I still eat meat, we cook plant-based recipes most of the time at home nowadays (especially thanks to marrying a vegetarian), so you may notice that proteins are becoming less and less common around here. Otherwise, you’ll find that the blog generally has a pretty good balance of recipes showing up here in a given month. And as always, if you ever have any recipe requests, don’t hesitate to let me know! I love making them happen!

Finally…

For more info about blogging, photography, and life behind the scenes, feel free to check out my FAQ page, which I try to constantly update. And if you haven’t already, feel free to subscribe to our YouTube channel, where we’re now posting new videos regularly about life behind the scenes, in addition to lots of yummy food videos. And of course, always feel free to follow along and come say hi on Insta too. ♡

More than anything, I just want to say thank you so much for being here, and hope that this site can play some small part in making your days a little brighter and tastier. Cheers!

348 comments on “About Ali”

Ali – love all your recipes! Question on the Roasted Tomato Salsa – do you put any seasonings on the tomatoes, onions, garlic and jalapenos when you roast them in the oven? The great picture looks like there’s maybe some salt & pepper? Or perhaps it just the blistering from the broil? Thank you – and again, love love all your recipes!

Started out to make 1 recipe of this and ended up making 3 because I loved the taste so much!! Delicious!! Still my question is does it have to stay in refrigerator once canned?? I would think not, but need to know.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog! Have 3 middle school kids with various food tastes and a husband who will eat anything :) We eat at home 7 days a week and try to eat whole foods as much as possible. Your blog has enabled me to easily cook good food that tastes great! Turkey Cheeseburger Soup, Ultra Crispy Nuggets, your simple salads and more have been lifesavers! They get thumbs up from everyone in the family. THANK YOU!!!!